EFFA Guidance Document for the Production of Natural Flavouring Ingredients
23 March 2011 | Source: European Flavour Association
With EFFA Information Letter IL/09/02 we informed you about the publication of the EFFA Guidance Document on the EC Regulation on Flavourings (Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008). That Guidance Document of 19/02/2009 mainly focused on the practical application of the Flavouring Regulation and highlighted the major changes compared to the current Flavouring Directive 88/388/EEC. It further aimed at establishing EU wide industry guidance on the interpretation of the new rules, e.g. on labelling of flavourings both for B2B sales and on final foodstuffs.
It was also intended to harmonise the interpretation of the Regulation within the European Flavour Industry and thus to serve fair competition. However although clear interpretations were given on definitions and labelling aspects (e.g. when “natural” can be used in the labelling of flavourings for B2B) it did not elaborate further on the processes that are considered as permissible to obtain / produce natural flavouring substances and (natural) flavouring preparations (i.e. “natural flavouring ingredients”) in the EU.
The current Guidance Document should be regarded as a further addition / additional platform that provides a consistent interpretation of what constitutes a natural process under the new Flavouring Regulation.
This Guidance Document is built up of six Chapters outlining the general principles, various processes and methods:
Chapter I General Principles
Chapter II Traditional food preparation processes
Chapter III Appropriate physical processes
Chapter IV Microbiological and enzymatic processes
Chapter V Processes used in the production of natural flavouring ingredients
Chapter VI Analytical methods to assess authenticity
With regard to the Analytical methods used to assess authenticity as described in Chapter VI, it should be noted/emphasised that the use of analytical methods in assessing the authenticity of natural flavouring substances has limitations. The user of the substances remains responsible for obtaining compliant documentation from the supplier / manufacturer and, if necessary, to initiate or conduct a full process audit and traceability at the manufacturer's premises.
